New Grass From New York

The Lovely Mrs. Amy Davis interviewed Dan Zanes last month and in that lovely give and take he mentioned his fellow Brooklynites, the band Astrograss, who played with him on his song "Jump Up!" on the Bright Spaces 2 comp. I felt the need to investigate.

Astrograss are pretty darn cute-- they have a young, fresh indie take on bluegrass and perform adult shows and kid shows, kind of like TMBG do. They have a kids' ep out, simply titled, Astrograss For Kids and self-titled CD from last year. On their website you will find a muncha buncha live covers available for download. I'm not gonna write much more, you can check 'em out below, and on their sites, one for adults, one for kids.

Astrograss, "Hungry Mungry" (words by Shel Silverstein!!!)

***

A couple of other things to note:

))) You know this whole lullaby covers of rock songs that's been happening like the Radiohead one? Well, I Guess I'm Floating has a track from the latest, Rockabye Baby! Does Nirvana. If you're into that sort of thing. What do you think? IGIF's Connor is a fan.

))) On Heather's Monday Music Round-Up she features a song by a guy I'd never heard of before, Benjy Ferree. I listened, I liked and then I thought, my kid would dig this song. I mean, "Happy hands are up in the air?" Yeah. Head on over to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends and listen for yourself. She's insitituted that lovely little arrow for your listening pleasure. I need to get me some of that. (Also if you go to today's post she mentioned a KEXP session with Rosewood Thieves who I love, love, love - thanks Heather.)

))) They Might Be Giants have sent out one of their many emails detailing ideal holiday purchases for you, from you, to you that will put money in their hands. I don't mind sending this info along or even this info because they are great.

))) Lunch Money has also sent out an email, but theirs doesn't speak of their wonderful CD from two years ago that if you don't have you should get, no theirs speaks of an upcoming show that despite not being anywhere near, I'm going to mention because wow, does it sound fun. This Saturday they are playing at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina where there is a current Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit. It's free, there will be dancing and singing and art making. Wish we were there...

))) The Fids & Kamily Poll is all up complete with essays and reviews and the like. Checkity check it. My own Year's Best that were not featured in that exercise, will unfold on these pages over the next month. It began yesterday. Just look down.

Year's Best*, Part 1

Music makes a great holiday gift for most anyone. I love making mix tapes, nee CDs, for people but I also like to spend some of that money I'm gonna spend anyway on buying my favorite CDs for others, thereby giving the musicians a little extra (double buying) which seems more than fair, neccesary almost. That was certainly one of the driving forces behind the Fids & Kamily Poll that Amy Davis, Stefan and Bill created. But as I've said before, they had restrictions. Damn restrictions. (But still, read my review of the Dan Zanes CD!) So over the next few weeks I'm gonna try and drop all the names of the bands and their CDs that were on my list, with a tune or two to inspire you. I've written about many of these bands before but perhaps you're new to this here blog or if not, you've long ago forgotten about the gloriousness that is the following.

*Wholly subjective, no restrictions, many of the CDs are not even from this year exactly, in no particular order. Oh well.

Saint Etienne – Up The Wooden Hills
This six-song EP was I think, originally supposed to be released on its own but as far as I can tell, it’s just been released as a double disc set with their 06 release “Tales from Turnpike House.” Any which way you can get it, I think you should— it’s one of my favorites (if not the favorite) CD that was released with the children’s market as it’s express goal. It’s danceable, hand-clappable, fantastical and just a damn fine good time. But I will tell you, my daughter didn’t come around to this quick-like. Upon initial plays she rejected it outright. But I tried again, like I did with non-nuggeted chicken and just like that, she found the love. Every song is gorgeous and fun at the same time thanks to Sarah Cracknell’s breathy voice. And the accompanying full length CD is a good late-night CD for you, your mate and a fine bottle of wine. It's like two for one, only that one is really expensive because it's an import. Sorry!

Saint Etienne, "Excitation"

Saint Etienne, "A Good Thing" (from the "adult" disc)

Now, you wanna buy that CD combo plate? Make sure you get the "Tales of the Turnpike" that comes with the EP, "Up The Wooden Hills." Buy it, here.
More about Saint Etienne.

Octopi? Octopus's? Oh bother.

The holidays are coming, the fids & kamily awards have outlined a collective list of best buys in kids' CDs this year and there are fine choices among them, but you can never, ever go wrong with the Beatles. If you don't already have the White Album, Sgt. Peppers or any number of best of collections, pick one up for a gift. Also out-- the new collection entitled LOVE that is Sir George Martin (aka alleged fifth Beatles) and his son Giles' remix of classic Beatles hits. Sound awful?

It ain't.

They take demo bits, lost bits, un-used bits, used bits and bits from other songs and mash them up and the results are quite nice actually: full, orchestral, gorgeous, seamless, walls of sound. These "new" tunes have served as the backdrop to the thirty-seventh or fifty-eighth Cirque Du Soilel Vegas extravaganza too. Don't be oft-put by the soft, slow intro to Octopus' Garden-- it bubbles up soon enough.

The Beatles, "Sgt. Peppers" (Love version)
The Beatles, "Octopus' Garden" (Love version)

Buy it here. Stream more songs here.

I'll make a tourniquet out of my shirt, you needn't do much just sit there and flirt (and if it looks drizzly I'lll build us a yurt.)

This is a touch diff from the usual pop we send your way, but if you're a fan of the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events, or your children are, then these songs should be a kick in the shorts. Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields' and other "bands" that mostly consist of just him, originally did some music for the audio versions of the Unfortunate books. He and Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, are friends apparently. They've culled some of those songs and created a few new ones for this new Nonesuch release: The Tragic Treasury.

I love these books because they're over the top fun and they're written rather well. They really set the mind on fire, the imagination a whirl. I already loved Handler though, before these hit-- his first book, The Basic Eight, is one of my all-time favorite YA books.

And the songs? Gloomy goofs with hilarious lyrics a la Snicket. Think: super dark and scary carnival scenario where kids go in and don't come out. Does my kid wanna listen to them? No way. But if you've got a gloomy pre-teen looming round the house, these may get them a giggling, albeit when you're not looking.

The Gothic Archies, "Walking My Gargoyle"(from The Carnivorous Carnival)
The Gothic Archies, "Shipwrecked" (from The End)

Listen to more. Buy the The Gothic Archies CD.

Looks can be deceiving.

This is a lesson I should have learned long ago, but alas, 'tis not so. I got this CD by a band calling themselves unfortunately Baby Loves Jazz. The CD is called Go Baby Go! Computer-generated animals with instruments on the front in the brightest colors imaginable prevented me from listening to it. That's it, to the right. I just don't feel it.

Then as I was making a pile of CDs to get rid of (I know, I told you) I noticed the tiny Verve logo. Verve? I looked inside to see what this was, thinking it was going to be a compilation of Verve artists doing songs that were vaguely childlike and that would have been okay. But I was still wrong.

Baby Loves Jazz is a band made up of stellar musicians: the bitchin' Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings; John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood; Babi Floyd soul-swing singer and songwriter; Ben Perowsky, drummer with John Zorn; Lonnie Plaxico who has played bass with greats like Dexter Gordon, Art Blakely and Mr. Chet Baker and modern artists such as Cassandra Wilson; Briggan Krauss the sax player in Sex Mob and Good Kitty who has played with every NYC avant jazz artist around, he's even played in the Hal Wilner / Leonard Cohen project; and it's all led by Steven Bernstein, also of Sex Mob, and the Millennial Territory Orchestra. Pedigree people.

The songs are mostly of the nursery variety but yeah, they're elevated. Even my oft-jaded five year old was into their versions of "Old MacDonald" and "Working on the Railroad" (and from the get-go, no warm-up necessary) because they are lively, raucous with enough of a new spin to make them worthwhile and fun even for -- ugh! -- those jaded five year old ears. And there are a few new tunes here as well.

Baby Loves Jazz, "Ten Little Monkeys"

And because much of the Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is ideal for kids, here is a song from her CD, I think from last year.

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, "This Land is Your Land" (mp4)

Buy the Baby Loves Jazz CD

***

I love the SoftLightes and not just because we're friends with tickle-Kristian. This is a band that has a unique playful sound that is so sweet and gooey and yet a touch subversive. I think the music is ideal for kids and adults alike. Can't recommend them enough. Here is their latest video, also good for the kids--

Greensleeves

I love synchronicity! No, not the Police album (which I do love, but that's not the point)... Last week I was thinking about what I could post here when the new Linus of Hollywood CD, Triangle, arrived in the mail from NotLame, my go-to site for the best power pop CDs.

The very same day, during my son's history lesson (we homeschool) we studied music of the Renaissance, specifically the English folk song Greensleeves. We listened to versions by The Boston Pops, The King's Singers, and Loreena McKennitt.

So, I figured I could write a post about a modern-day pop craftsman from Los Angeles, or a 500-year-old traditional tune that may have been written by King Henry VIII.

First thing I did that evening was sit down at the computer to listen to Linus of Hollywood's 2001 CD, Let Yourself Be Happy, an amalgamation of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Harry Nilsson.

As the first track started playing, it took me about 30 seconds to think, "Oh wow, I've got Greensleeves on the brain." As the song progressed, I realized it wasn't my mind playing tricks. Linus used the Greensleeves melody in the song Building A Ship.

And that's why you're getting both songs today. First, my favorite version of Greensleeves, a traditional orchestral rendition by The Boston Pops, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams and conducted by John Williams:

The Boston Pops Orchestra - "Fantasia On Greensleeves"

And, from Linus of Hollywood, that Greensleeves-inspired song, plus a second track off a brilliant disc of sunshine pop that is good for all ages:

Linus of Hollywood - "Building A Ship"
Linus of Hollywood - "A Whole New Country"

- Phil

Buy The Boston Pops' Pops In Love CD here at Amazon.
Buy Linus of Hollywood's Let Yourself Be Happy CD here at Amazon.

A Spanking Good Time

First up, I have mastered the powers of MidPhase and have a new server! Okay maybe mastered is not the right word, hobbling by is more like it, but hey, we have a new place to hold our music and for now it works, so a few hosannas and halelujahs are in order.

Onward.

Okay, I've been spanked. You see, I have voted in the Fids & Kamily Poll, but alas, the powers that be have rejected one (actually three!) of my picks, one of which is the new "kids" record from The Asylum Street Spankers entitled Mommy Says No! They say since it's currently available on the web-only and not due for official release till February it don't count. Fine, fine. That just means I can write about it here (I wasn't gonna talk up any of my picks till the whole poll was out and public.) I really like this CD. I obviously haven't had it long but from the moment I took it out of the case and plopped it in the CD player, it's been a hit with the family. This is, in many ways, classic Spankers with Christina and Wammo trading off most of the vocals and hence the styles—from old-timey rags to balls-out bar rock to just plain keep Austin weird style tunes.

It's probably no secret, from the song I picked here, that we like the Christina picks betta, BUT having said that, "You Only Love Me For My Lunchbox" (Baby) is about as fun as the recording gets. And it's a fun one. I like the Spankers previous adult incarnations, their politics are dished up with knee-slapping hilarity (see You Tube for their video "Slap A Yellow Ribbon On Your SUV" for proof.) And certainly the music-part was A-OK for the kids -- fun singalongs, catchy melodies, loud shout outs -- the only thing is, they are ferociously foul-mouthed. Capital F. Now if you've been here before, you know that doesn't get me too riled up, I can let double entendres fly by with the best of them, but at some point, you gots to draw the arbitrary line.

So this is a welcome addition to our CDs, it will see much play. And as a kicker, they cover a Harry Nilsson song ("Think About Your Troubles") and a Nirvana track ("Sliver," of course...Grandma take me home!)

As I said, it's only available on their website right now, aparently till February when this will be officially released. Oh and I believe Feb 07 is also when we will see truly my favorite kids' CD of the year gets it much overdue release: The Terrible Twos, If You Ever See an Owl. Can't wait, more on that later.

Asylum Street Spankers, "Be Like You" from Mommy Says No!
Asylum Street Spankers, "Cakewalk" from Hot Lunch

And because, seriously, hallelujahs are in order, I can post again...

Rufus Wainright, "Hallelujah" from Shrek soundtrack

**Buy Mommy Says No! (you can even get a lunchbox!)**

My new Band Crush

I call these two songs a million times a day just to hear the sounds of their voices. I Google them and read all their MySpace comments. I’m willing to ignore the fact that I don’t really LOVE all the other songs by this band, and that they aren't all kid friendly. When my dad says this music is fluff and no good for me, I say he totally doesn’t understand and I slam my bedroom door and call them again. Cha. It IS deep and beautiful. And Heck! There’s a UKULELE!!! Like all the music that gets me bothered these days. I know we’re going to get married and have gorgeous musical children and live in a beautiful treble clef shaped house with topiaries shaped like instruments.

Or maybe tomorrow I’ll be listening to the Blow again.

But these songs are pretty stunning:

Bishop Allen - Butterfly Nets - From the EP May
Bishop Allen – Like Castanets - From the EP September

And WHY OH WHY I thought I was going to be the only person in the world that stupid new ezarchive thing was suddenly going to work for? I tried it and it seemed to work, but alas... New links that should work put in on Saturday PM.

Check out Bishop Allen and buy some.

--deb in sf